Apparatus for vulcanizing endless articles



Sept. 12, 1950 u. c. HAIREN '2,522,3s9

APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ENDLESS ARTICLES Sept. 12, 1950 I u. c. HAREN APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING ENDLESS ARTICLES Filed 001;. 27, 19.48 V

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U E-Z75 %1'afien I Patented Sept. 12, 1950 APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZINGr ENDLESS ARTICLES 7 Urban C. Haren, Akron, Ohio, assignonto The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N.'Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 2'7, 1948, Serial-No. 56,715

This invention relates to the vulcaniz'ing of endless articles such as transmission belts, and is especially useful in the manufacture of belts for multiple belt drives where it is desirable to vulcanize the belts as a set although the invention is also useful in vulcanizing single belts or other endless band. articles; I

In the manufacture of multiple belt drive members, difficulty has been experienced in making all of the belts of a set of the same length. and having the same stretch characteristics throughout. In apparatus heretofore proposed for vulcanizing such belts, it has been difiicult to load and unload the vulcanizer.

"It is an object of the present invention toovercome the foregoing and other difficulties.

Other objects are to provide for vulcanizing a belt step-by-step in a manner to provide uniform stretch characteristics throughout the belt, to provide improved means for simultaneously vulcanizing a plurality of belts of uniform length, to

provide sequence control of' the vulcanizing apparatus, to provide ease of loading and. unloading the apparatus, and to provide an improved product.

' These and other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of apparatus con- 12 Claims. (Ch ld-6): 1 1

structed in accordance with and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig; 3 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 5'is' a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. l.

Fig. dis adiagrammatic wiring diagram of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral des'ig nates a cross frame member mounted upon a base plate Hand supporting a pair of columns I2, l3 which are joined at their upper ends by a beam I4: A frame I5 is fixed to base plate- I'I'and has a bearing It in which a hollow shaft II isr'otatably mounted on'a horizontal axis. A curing drum I8 is integral withv the shaft Il The drum is hollow so as to contain steam or other heating fluid and connects with the hollow shaft. For circulating the heating fluid, a mill-T I9 is securedfatthe end of the shaft and has flexible pipes 20, ZIconnecting therewith. The pipe connects a steam line to the interiorof the shaftandthe pipe 21 connects to a pipe 22 which extends axially through the shaft and is bent to enter the lowest part'of the drum'and connect it to an exhaust line.

For driving the drum, a motor 39 is mounted on the frame I5and has a pinion 3| which engages a bull gear 32 fixed to shaft I'I.

The drum It may have a cylindrical face for vulcanizing .fiat belting, but where V-belts or other belts forsuse in grooved pulleys are to be cured, the drum is provided with one or more circumferential grooves [8 corresponding thereto.

For tensioning the belts, a cross rail 34 is slideably mounted for vertical movement on columns I 2, I3 and supports a pair of studs 35, 36 on which a, pair of pulleys 31, 38 are rotatably mounted. Where the drum I8 is grooved, the pulleys 3' l,. 38

are grooved correspondingly to align one, or more belts 'lfl trained thereabout and about the drum Ill. The rail34 may beraised to tension the belts or lowered to relieve the tension andpermit removal thereof. For this purpose a horizontal shaft is" mounted on a speed reducer 46 driven by a reversible motor 41,.and is journaled in bear"- ings 4Bon frame I5. Sprocket 49, 50 are fixed to the shaft. A pair of horizontalshafts .5I, 52 are journaled on columns I2, I3 respectively, and are driven from shaft :15 as by chains 53, 54 engaging, sprockets 4 9, 5fl and sprockets 55, 56 fixed respectively to shafts '51, 52. Idler sprockets 51, 58 are rotatably mounted on cross ,rail I4 in alignment with sprockets 58, (SI! fixed respectively to shafts 52. the upper and lower sprockets 51, 58 and 59, 60 and are attached to rail 35. The arrangement is such that rail 35 may be lowered or raised by motor ll. v

For, pressing the belts against the drum I8, a pair of arcuate. heating shoes 65, 6t complementarily extend about the lower half of the drum and are mounted for movement radially toward and from the drum by rams 5?, 68 fitted in hydraulic'cylinderstt', it. The rams are operated in unison and, to insure such operation, the shoes 65, B6 are pivotally connected to links I I, 12 which Chains GI, 62 are looped about tion the belts. vanced against the drum I8, and vulcanization of the pressed portion takes place. The shoes are in turn are connected to levers I3, I4 pivotally mounted on cross-frame member I0. The levers I3, I4 have segmental gears I5, I integral there with and meshing with each other.

Each ram 61, 68 is arranged to be moved by hydraulic pressure toward and away from drum I8 and for this purpose a cylinder bore is formed in the ram to fit a piston 80 attached by a rod 8I to the end of the cylinder 69. A passage 82 is provided through the rod to the inner cylinder for admission of pressure fluid from a pipe 83 to retract the ram. A second pipe 84 admits pressure fluid to the outer cylinder 09 to advance the ram. Cylinder i0 is similarly provided with pipes 85, 86 for supplying pressure fluid.

Where it is desired to vulcanize V-belts and the drum I8 is grooved it is desirable to arrange for positive separation of the belts from the grooves as they leave the drum I8. For this purpose a shaft 81 is journaled on the frame of the apparatus and has a pinion 88 fixed thereto and meshing with gear 32 and a roller 89 fixed thereto for contacting the belt 40 at a position close to the face of the drum I8 and deflecting it away from the groove. As the reach of belt between the drum I8 and the roller 89 is relatively short and the belt is relatively stiff, the roller 89 acts to strip the belt from the groove of the drum. A similar idler roller 90 may be provided to deflect the belts at the position where they engage the opposite margin of the drum.

For spraying a liquid on the face of the drum I8 to decrease adhesion of the belts thereto, spray guns III, II 2 are mounted on the frame near the face of the drum and are connected by solenoid-operated valves to a source of liquid under pressure supplied therefrom by pipes H3,

The shoes 65. 66 have steam cavities for heating them and may have cavities H5, H6 at their upper ends for cooling the ends thereby reducing the marking of the belts at the ends of successive step cures.

For measuring the amount of stretch applied to the belts, a scale 9| is mounted on the frame parallel to column I 3 and a pointer 92 is mounted on rail 34 for indicating the position of the rail.

For limiting movement of rail 34, a limit switch 93 is adjustably mounted on the scale 9| and connected to the control circuit of motor 41 which controls movement of the rail. The switch is the pointer at its most lowered position-to open and thereby stop the motor 4'! before rail 34 interferes with drum I8.

In the operation of the apparatus, with the shoes 65, 6B and the rail 34 lowered, belts are placed about the drum- I8 and about tension pulleys 37, 38. The rail 34 is then raised to ten- The shoes 65, 06 are then adthen lowered and the drum rotated until the cured portion of the belts reaches a position just short of the pressing range and another cure is made slightly overlapping the first. This is repeated until the entire belt is cured. If desired the rail 34 may be raised slightly between successive cures to progressively apply tension to the belts.

To prevent operation of motor 30 except when the shoes 65, 66 are lowered out of contact with the belts and drum I8, a normally clos d i it switch 95, in the control circuit of motor 30, may be mounted on the frame in a position to be contacted and opened by the shoe 65 as the shoe contacts it in its advancing movement. This switch may be connected in the circuit of motor 30 to prevent rotation of drum I8 except when the switch is closed.

The operation of spray heads III, IIZ may be controlled so as to spray only when the shoes 65, 60 are retracted and the drum I8 is rotating. For this purpose the spray heads may be operated by a solenoid controlled valve and a normally open limit switch 96 may be mounted on column I3 in a position to be closed by contact with shoe 66 when the shoe is lowered. Closing of the switch energizes the solenoid and operates the spray only when the shoes are retracted. This switch also preferably is connected in the control circuit of motor 30 so as simultaneously to start the motor and sprays.

When it is desired to start the motor 41 to raise the rail 34 simultaneously with retraction of shoes 65, 06, a normally open limit switch 9? may also be mounted on the column I3 in position to be closed by contact with shoe 66 in its retracted position. This switch may simultaneously start an automatic timer 98 for controlling operation of motor 41 in its stretching movements.

Provisions may be made for controlling the angle of rotation of the drum I8 so that the corresponding arc of such angle is a factor of the length of the belts and thereby provides for curing the belts uniformly. For this purpose a variable speed reducer is mounted on base plate II and its shaft I00 is driven by motor 30 through sprockets I 0I, I02 and chain I03. The speed reducer drives a shaft I04 which drives a visual counter I05 and also a cam disc I 06. Cam disc I05 has a projection I 01 on its periphery in position to depress and operate at limit switch I08 mounted on base plate II. Switch I08 has normally closed contacts in the control circuit of solenoid I42 controlling current to motor 30 and when depressed stops motor 30. It also stops operation of the spray heads I I I, I I2 simultaneously with stopping of the motor 30 and has normally open contacts in the circuit of the timer drive motor and clutch closing of which starts operation of a timer IIO which controls the length-of cure and the dwell of the shoes 65, 66 against drum I8.

While the various moving instrumentalities of the apparatus may be operated at will by hand controlled switches and valves it is desirable to provide for sequence control of the apparatus so that the operator may devote his entire time to loading and unloading the apparatus and regulating the curing temperature making possible operation of a plurality of vulcanizing machines by a single operator. The schematic wiring diagram for such automatic control is shown in Fig. 6 and is as follows:

Power is supplied to motors 30 and 41 and also 'to a transformer I25 by a three wire high voltage supply through a hand operated main switch I25 and branch cut-out switch-es I21, I28 to the circuits of motors 30, 41 respectively. The transformer I25 has a reduced voltage secondary which through a cut-out switch I29 supplies current to the main lines I30, I 3| of the control circuit. For convenience the branch circuits from .line I30 to I3I have been designated by letters A to M. The arrangement of solenoids and solenoid and; manually operated switches in these branch circuitsiwill he more readily: under stood from a description of their operationwhich is-asfollows: I

As indicated. in the wiring diagram, limit switches 93Iand94, previously described are both closed and the rail 34 is at a position between itssupper-and lower travel limits so. that belts may be placed about the drum I8 and pulleys; 31., 38; the shoes 65; 66 being retracted with switch 95 closed and switches 96. and 9 1 heldopen, and drum I8 is not rotating. In this position of'the parts, no current" passes through any of the branch circuits- After the belts arepl'acedaboutthe drum I8 and pulleys 31, 38g a manually operated switch I32 in branch circuit A. is closed and'current flows through. circuit: A from line I39 to I3I' by way of normally closed push-button stop switch I33, switch I32;'c1osed limitswitch 93, and. a solenoid I3,4,1 thereby energizingvthe. solenoid I34.

41' causing the motor to run in a direction to raise the'rail 34v and tension the belts; When the rail hasraised the desired amount, the switch I'3Z'isopened', otherwise the rail would rise: until switch 93 opened. Switch 93may be previously set-"for the correct stretch. Opening of manually operated switch I32. sets the raise section of circuit A for automatic operation.

Energizing of solenoid I34 also closes a switch I 3411 in a shunt: line of circuits G and H which control respectively the drum rotating motor 31!- and the spray valves through the manually operated switch I 65; now open. Switch I255: prevents starting of drum rotating-motor3it du'-- ing the initial stretchihg operation; As solenoid Solenoid I34-c1oses'contactors I3'4'a, I341), I34c in the. circuitto motor 1116', and also closesa switch: I42d in'av holding circuit ofi' circuite G, thereby assuring rotation of the drum I8 and camv I116" until'the cam opens: switch I08 in that circuit, stopping rotation of drum I 8 and simultaneously closes: its.- contacts in circuit I. When that occurs, switch I4'Icbeing closed; switch I08 causes solenoids I43, I44 to be energized'in circuits 1 and J'st'arting timer III) by controlof' its motor and clutch; Solenoid I43 when energized, also closes a switch I43a in circuit K, energizing a solenoid I 45: It' also closes a switch I431) in a holding circuit about switches I08 and M10. Solenoid I45 closes switches I45a, I451) in-ci'rcuitL energizing sole-- noids I 45, I41 of the valves controlling cylind'ersG'S, mandadvancing the shoes 65, against the drum I8.

The heater shoes remain in contact with drum I8 throughout a curing period for which the timer I IE has been set, at which point, the timer I I9 opens switch I43a, deenergi zing solenoid I45; deenergizing solenoids I46, I 4'! and shoes'65, 66 are retracted. I

As the shoes are retracted, they permit switches 93, 9-1 to close momentarily. The closing of switch 96 again startsmotor 39 and the spray-valves by energizing solenoids I42, I48. Closing ofswitch ll'lenergizes solenoid I34 whichoperates the motor 41 in a directionto raise rail 34; and also energizes solenoids I49, I50 to} start timer as which controls raising of rail 34 by successive increments between cures: Solenoid I59 closes a'switch I 50min a holding circuit aboutswitches I32 and 9'! and also a switch I501 in a I34 isn0wdeenergized by the opening of switch I32 and switch I34'd'isnow open, switch lfifi may nowbe closed without-starting of motorfii of the mechanically latched-in type and stays closed. until. unlatchecl at" the end: of the: cycle of operation.v The; switch. I40 J is. for the purposeof setting the circuitfF for'automatic operation.

The momentary energizing. of solenoid I3Ilcv by closing sWitchuII-TI closes a normally'opemswitch I39a, in circuits G andiH; shutting-switch. I346;

now open, and: energizingssolenoids I 42; and. I148 to start the drum rotating; motor 3Il;and:" the:

sprays simultaneously.

Energizing of solenoid. I 4t, the purpose of which is to set upcircuits-A', B, C, G, H, Iand J for automatic operation, closesa switch Him in: circuits A, B, and C; and'aslong as switches I32 and 91 are open,v no immediate movement: of rail 34 takes place- At the same time a switch Hill) in circuits G and H is closed, but until? switch-96 is closed by movement oi" the'lieating shoes 65; 6.6 m: retracting, no rotation of" the drum lfl'occur's. Also; at the same time; a switch I4I'c closes in circuits I and Jwhich control the" motor and clutch: circuit of timer II'll', 'but' 'until the contacts of switch I08 in circuits I, J are closed by timer cam I932 the timer 98 doesnot' start;

Energizing of solenoid I39 having energized the drum rotating circuit through switch I39a, solenoid I42 in that circuit closes switches I42a, I421), I420 in the circuit of motor ";starting the motor .30 which rotates the drum I8 and cam cured" belts and remains stationary after each" holding circuit-about switches 93 and I 32to keep solenoids I49, I energized. After aperiodof raising: movement for which timer 93 has been set, the timer opens switches I5Ila; I501) to stop-- the stretcher motor 47.

For lowering the rail 34 to remove the cured belts, a normally open push-button switch I isprovided in a shunt circuit of circuit A which includes limit switch 94 and a solenoid I61. Manual closing of switch I69 energizes solenoid; I61 which closes switches IGIa, I6 Ib, I6Ic to start motor-41 in a reverse direction,v and simultaneously closes a switch IGId ina holding circuit about the'push-button- I60: The rail 34' is lowered until the operator opens normally closed push-button switch I33 or the lowering pointer 92 opens limit switch 94. Upon the occurring of either the rail stops.

If it is desired to movethe heating shoes 65, Eli-toward and from the drum independent of'the operation of the timer a manually operated switch I62 is provided in a shunt aboutvswit'ch l-43a in circuit K. Closing of theswitch energizes solenoid I'45'w'hich advances the shoes, and openi; i-ng it retracts them;

Operation of the spray valve I! I, IIZ'is simultaneous with rotation of drum I8. For this purpose solenoid M8, in parallel with solenoid I .42, isenergized when solenoid I43 is energized, and closes switches l'48'a, I431), in circuit M which I includes a solenoid-164cm the spraycontrol valve. 7

k The hand" operated switch I in circuitiGmay he provided and is normally closed during operation of'the apparatus, but may beiopened to stop rotationof drum Hi at any desired position.

Latched. in switch i3'8a is automatically released-.bythe counter I95 at-the end of a number, ofsuccessive cures for which the counter" has previously been set. I Y

4 A the m1 341s onlygloweredifor loadingunraising movement determined by settingof timer 98 the belts are stretched by equal increments between successive cures ofv a belt.

When belts are firsttensioned on the apparatus the drum i8 is preferably rotated during the stretching operation to distribute the stretch throughout the belts. The manually operated switch I65 permits the operator to rotate the drum when desired provided the shoes 65, 66 are retracted. Also the advance and retraction of the heating shoes 65, 66 may be manually controlled by the switch I62.

As a plurality of similar belts may be cured at one time, the resulting belts are nicely matched.

The columns l2, l3 may be made as high as desired to accommodate a great range of belt lengths.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a'stretching member including a roller arranged to engage aloop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe having a molding face for directly engaging and pressing the band'against said drum, means for ad- A vancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, and means efiective only when said shoe is in the retracted position for rotating said drum.

2. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe having a molding face for directly engaging and pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, a spray head located adjacent said drum for spraying the peripheral surface thereof, and means effective only when said shoe is in the retracted positionfor operating said spray head and rotating said drum. a

3. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe having a molding facefor directly engaging and pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means effective only when said shoe is in the retracted position for rotating said drum, said means comprising a motor for rotating said drum, and a timer controlling operation of said motor.

4. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of said band, said stretching member being moveable vertically toward and away from said drum to stretch the band, an arcuate shoe for pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means for moving said stretching means away from said drum in successive movements to stretch the band progressively, and meansforrotating said drum in equal angular movements between movements of said-stretching means. I

5. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe for pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means effective only when said shoe is retracted for rotating said drum intermittently through equal angular movements, and means for efiecting successive movements of said stretching member away from said drum during successive rotative movements of said drum.

6. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe for pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means efiiective only when said shoe is retracted for rotating said drum intermittently through equal angular movements, means for effecting successive movements of said stretching member away from said drum during successive rotative movements of said drum, and timing means for controlling movements of said drum, said shoe and said stretching means in sequence.

7. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe for pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means effective only when said shoe is retracted for rotating said drum intermittently through equal angular movements; means for effecting successive movements of said stretching member away from said drum during successive rotative movements of said drum, and timing means for controlling movements of said drum, said shoe and said stretching means in'a series of repeated sequential operations including overlapping pressing movements spanning the perimeter of the band.

8. Apparatus for vulcanizing an endless band article, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, a stretching member including a roller arranged to engage a loop of the band, said stretching member being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoe forpress ing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means effective only whensaid shoe is retracted for rotating said drum intermittently through equal angular movements, means for effecting successive movements of said stretching member away from said drum during successive rotative movements of said drum, timing means for controlling movements of said drum, said shoe and said stretching means in a series of repeated sequential operations including overlapping pressing movements spanning thev perimeter of the band, and means for discontinuing said movements at the end of the series.

9. Apparatus for vulcanizing endless band articles, said apparatus comprising a rotatable v articles, said apparatus comprising a-irotatable drum having peripheral grooves for receiving the articles, a stretching member including-La roller mounted parallel to and having p ripheral grooves in alignment with the grooves'joi' said drum for engaging loops of said articles, said stretching means being moveable toward and away from said drum, an arcuate shoehaving a molding face for directly engaging and pressing the band against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means for heating said drum and said shoe, and means effective only when said shoe is in its retracted position for rotating said drum.

11. Apparatus for vulcanizing endless band articles, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum having peripheral grooves for receiving the articles, a stretching member including a roller mounted parallel to and having peripheral grooves in alignment with the grooves of said drum for engaging loops of said articles, said stretching means being moveable toward and shoe, means for rotating said drum step by step,

away from said drum, an arcuate shoe having a molding face for directly engaging and pressing the hand against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means for heating said drum and said shoe, and means for rotating said drum through successive movements upon successive retractive movements of said shoe.

12. Apparatus for vulcanizing endless band articles, said apparatus comprising a rotatable drum having peripheral grooves for receiving the articles, a stretching member including a roller mounted parallel to and having peripheral grooves in alignment with the grooves of said drum for engaging loops of said articles, said stretching means being moveable toward and away from said drum,--aniarcuate shoe having a molding face for directly engaging and pressing the hand against said drum, means for advancing and retracting said shoe with relation to said drum, means for heating said drum and said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date- ,Kilborn July 27, 1943 Number 

